Planning your travels for the new year? Lonely Planet has just published the 2008 "Bluelist," a 228-page compendium of top travel destinations and experiences around the globe. Compiled from our worldwide network of writers, staffers and travelers, the book highlights 30 hotter-than-ever cities, regions and countries and contains 30 bluelists of travel recommendations in categories like "Great River Trips," "Strange Museums," "Food Wonderlands of the World" and "Best-Value Destinations."

So we asked our U.S.-based staffers to choose their top three hot spots for 2008. We compiled their responses and came up with our collective "Where to Go Next?" Bluelist. Here are our recommendations, along with selected staffers' comments.

Number 10: A classic — France: The most visited country in the world welcomed 78 million visitors in 2007. "Paris and Provence are great no-brainers," said one staffer. "But travel off-trail to coastal Marseille or French Basque Country and the Pyrenees, too."

Number 9: Spain: "So many cultures have intersected in Spain over the centuries," one writer said. "They've left behind amazing artworks. Granada's Alhambra is a masterpiece of Islamic architecture. Madrid's museums are unreal. Barcelona's unfinished La Sagrada Familia Cathedral has been under construction for more than a century, and might be the world's most beautiful work-in-progress. And Spanish nightlife is off the hook."

Numbers 8-7: A tie between Australia and China.

Australia: "From a practical standpoint, Australia's so much more accessible," one staffer wrote. "New air routes between OZ and the states are key." "The cities are dynamic and the countryside wild," said another. "Taste your way through Western Australia's wine country and dive surreal Ningaloo Marine Park."

China: Number one in our 2007 poll remains a strong favorite. "It's cheap, it's in the news and tourism is exploding there. The 2008 Summer Olympics will center all the attention on Beijing, but there's so much more to see."

Numbers 6-5: Another tie, between India and Canada.

India: "I'm lured to India because everything from Himalayan caves to Bollywood films is exotic," noted a staffer. "I'm tantalized by visuals and ancient belief systems. Temples and deities, gurus and yogis, ayurveda and ashrams, strong scents of spices, tea and incense. And crazy music that puts you in a trance."

"An overwhelming, breathtaking study in contrasts," another said. "It's always been a popular destination, but now that India's becoming more of a tech hub, a lot more students are studying abroad there."

Canada: "Great people — not a rotten apple in the place," swore one Canada fan. "The vast playland of mountains, lakes, rivers, fjords, beaches and prairies offers unlimited adventures. It's easy for Americans to travel there, but places like Montreal and the Yukon feel like worlds apart."

Number 3: Argentina: Consistently one of our staffers' favorite destinations. "I've wanted to go to Argentina from when I saw my first picture of beautiful people dancing the sultry tango on cobbled Buenos Aires streets," said one. "Where else can you experience a cosmopolitan, European feel and still have a few bucks to spare?" Another chimed in: "I want to experience firsthand the culture, food and natural beauty my compadres rave about."

Number 2: Mexico: "The U.S. dollar goes a lot farther south of the border," one staffer said. "The beaches are fantastic, but there is something for every traveler: delicious food, pre-Columbian ruins, vibrant markets and festivals, colonial cobblestone towns nestled in the mountains."

"More World Heritage sites than any other country in the Americas," said one respondent. "Mexico City has great galleries, clubs and restaurants, and Pacific Coast places like Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo, Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan are where it's at." Or, as one former resident put it, "Siempre mi numero uno."

Number 1: And topping our 2008 Bluelist — USA! "The USA's vast borders contain unforgettable experiences for all modes of traveler," reasoned one writer. "And let's be honest — the dropping dollar makes it harder to go abroad." "Where to begin?" said another. "America's filled with places famous and unfamiliar. You can easily explore further. Love New York? Check out Brooklyn next time. Blown away by Yosemite? Kings Canyon-Sequoia offers similar vistas, minus the crowds. "I like finding the next big things now," a third mentioned. "Places like Louisville, Kansas City and Savannah are like tomorrow's Austin, Chicago and New Orleans."

That's our Bluelist for 2008. What's yours? Share your picks for 2008 at lonelyplanet.com/bluelist. And happy travels in the new year!